4 definitions
for authoritarian
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
authoritarian \authoritarian\ n.
1. 1 behaves like a tyrant.
Syn: dictator
[WordNet 1.5]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
authoritarian \authoritarian\ adj.
1. characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule;
having absolute sovereignty; -- of governments or rulers;
as, an authoritarian regime
Syn: autocratic, dictatorial, despotic, tyrannical
[WordNet 1.5]
2. 1 expecting unquestioning obedience: "he was imperious and
dictatorial"; "the timid child of authoritarian parents";
"insufferably overbearing behavior toward the waiter"
Syn: dictatorial, overbearing
[WordNet 1.5]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 :
authoritarian
adj 1: characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having
absolute sovereignty; "an authoritarian regime";
"autocratic government"; "despotic rulers"; "a
dictatorial rule that lasted for the duration of the
war"; "a tyrannical government" [syn: autocratic, dictatorial,
despotic, tyrannical]
2: likened to a dictator in severity [syn: dictatorial]
3: expecting unquestioning obedience; "he was imperious and
dictatorial"; "the timid child of authoritarian parents";
"insufferably overbearing behavior toward the waiter"
[syn: dictatorial, overbearing]
n : a person behaves in an tyrannical manner; "my boss is a
dictator who makes everyone work overtime" [syn: dictator]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :
158 Moby Thesaurus words for "authoritarian":
Spartan, Spartanic, absolute, absolutist, absolutistic, arbitrary,
aristocratic, arrogant, ascendant, astringent, austere,
authoritative, authorized, autocratic, autonomous, bigot, bigoted,
borne, bossy, bureaucratic, civic, civil, closed,
clothed with authority, commanding, competent, consequential,
considerable, constitutional, constricted, controlling, cramped,
creedbound, deaf, deaf to reason, demanding, democratic, despotic,
dictatorial, doctrinaire, dogmatic, dominant, domineering, dour,
duly constituted, eminent, empowered, ex officio, exacting,
exigent, fanatical, fascist, fascistic, federal, federalist,
federalistic, feudal, governing, governmental, great, grim,
grinding, gubernatorial, harsh, heavy-handed, hegemonic,
hegemonistic, heteronomous, hidebound, high-handed, illiberal,
imperative, imperial, imperious, important, influential, insular,
leading, little, little-minded, lordly, magisterial, magistral,
masterful, matriarchal, matriarchic, mean, mean-minded,
mean-spirited, meticulous, mighty, momentous, monarchal,
monarchial, monarchic, monocratic, narrow, narrow-hearted,
narrow-minded, narrow-souled, narrow-spirited, nearsighted,
official, oligarchal, oligarchic, oppressive, overbearing,
overruling, parliamentarian, parliamentary, parochial, patriarchal,
patriarchic, peremptory, petty, pluralistic, political, potent,
powerful, preeminent, prestigious, prominent, provincial, puissant,
purblind, ranking, repressive, republican, rugged, ruling,
self-governing, senior, severe, shortsighted, small, small-minded,
stern, straitlaced, strict, stringent, stuffy, substantial,
superior, suppressive, supreme, theocratic, total, totalitarian,
tough, tyrannical, tyrannous, uncatholic, uncharitable, ungenerous,
unliberal, unsparing, unyielding, weighty
